Greenhouse roof construction



A. B. KLEINHANS GREENHOUSE ROOF CONSTRUCTION March 1, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1947 A. B. KLEINHANS k.

A. B. KLEINHANS 2,463,183

GREENHOUSE ROOF CONSTRUCTION March 1 l 949.

Filed Feb. .14, 1947 O V INVENTOR m A. B. KLEINHANS BY a, W W

HIS ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1, .1949. A. B. KLEINHANS GREENHOUSE ROOF CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb 14, 1947 INVENTOR A. B. KLEINHANS BY fi HlQ- HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1,1949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to a greenhouse roof, particularly to a roof for a greenhouse that comprises an all metal, glass-supporting framework, of the type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 726,511, filed Feb. 5, 1947.

As set forth in said application, an all metal framework for a greenhouse is highly desirable, but involves serious problems arising chiefly because expansion and contraction must be accommodated in ways that prevent exertion of breaking strains on the glass panes that form the sheathing of the building. The aforesaid application discloses a main framework and vertical Wall structure that solves these problems insofar as they are involved in the sidewall structure. The present invention is devoted to solution of similar problems involved in a roof.

The greenhouse itself comprises a main frame- Work of vertical studs suitably supported in a foundation, vertical walls including glass-supporting vertical astragals arranged as described in said copending application, inclined rafters supported by the studs, and a ridgepole supported by the rafters. A highly desirable roof structure for such a greenhouse includes inclined astragals extending between the tops of the vertical wall astragals and the ridgepole, to support fixed panel sections of glass, and other sections of movable panels so supported that they may be swung open to provide ventilation. Such a desirable roof arrangement, in addition to the noted problem of relieving the glass panes of stresses imposed by expansion and contraction of the metal elements that support them, presents the problem of preventing imposition of stresses on the joints between the vertical and inclined astragals by expansion and contraction of the inclined astragals, coupled with necessity for supporting the inner ends of the inclined astragals on the rigid ridgepole. Another problem is the provision of close joints betweeen the movable ventilating panels and the fixed sheathing parts of the roof.

Because of its light weight and rust resisting qualities, aluminum or a suitable aluminum alloy is preferred as material for the astragals that support the glass frames. Because of strength limitations, steel or similar high load-bearing material is preferred for the main framework of the building, comprising the studs, stringers, rafters and ridgepoles. Differences in expansion coefiicients of the two materials must be accommodated to avoid distortion or other damage.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for supporting light weight astragals upon a framework of material having a different coefiicient of expansion, and arranged to permit the outer ends of the inclined astragals rigidly to be joined to the top ends of vertical wall astragals without imposing upon the joints strains due to expansion and contraction of the inclined astragals.

Another object is to provide a novel system of movable ventilating roof panels, providing tight closure when shut, and cooperating with the fixed portions of a roof so arranged.

Still another object is the provision of a novel ridge structure that provides many advantages in simplicity of construction, prefabrication, accommodatiori of expansion and contraction of the roof fabric, and cooperation with horizontally pivoted roof panels.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the end of a greenhouse section, with the side wall construction broken away to show the inner end main frame structure.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of a section of the roof showing adjacent fixed and movable panels and their assembly within the ridge.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of a bracket for sup porting an inclined astragal on the ridgepole, the latter being shown in cross-section on the line 6-43 in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a similar sectional view on line 'l--'l of Fig. 4.

Describing the drawings in detail, the main frame of the greenhouse is disposed inside of the glass sheathing which forms the greater part of the outer fabric and comprises studs mounted in a suitable foundation, wall stringers carried by the studs for supporting the lower ends of rafters [3, a ridgepole l4 supported by the rafters, and

roof stringers I5 supported at their ends by the rafters. Intermediate studs l6 may support the stringers [5 between the rafters.

The side wall of the greenhouse comprises plural. spaced vertical astragals l1, supported in a suitable way, for example as described in my said copending application. Glass panes are carried by these astragals. The roof structure desirably comprises end sections l8 of fixed panels, and intermediate sections l 9 having horizontally pivoted panels.

The roof comprises inclined astragals 20, the

' which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the side surface of the ridgepole [4, an arm 24 extending outwardly laterally from the plate, terminating in an enlargement or head 25 that is suitably shaped to engage in the channel of an astragal 20, as shown in Fig. 6. Glass panes 26 are supported between adjacent astragals 20 throughout the fixed panel section [8.

A cap structure is arranged above the ridgepole l4, this structure comprising a top plate 21 that extends he iul len th of t e building and support d thr ut t e fixed pan l s ctions it on h a ing. was 28 carried a ve the r dgepele by the bra kets 22 and 53, Throughout t fix d panel sections it t cap st ucture also includes vertical side skirts 29 that are secured to flan es. the top plate and add tionally supported by s uds 3] tha pr ject laterally from the bracke plates :23 and to which crews 32 may se cure the skirts. Rivets 33 may secure the skirt and top. plate to ether and the top plate to the arm 23.

In order to prevent exertion of thrust, arisin from expansion and contraction of the roof astragals 20, upon the joints between the outer ends of such astragals and the top ends of the vertical astragals [1, the inner ends of the roof astragals 2B are permitted to move relative to the ridgepole I4, and the outer ends of the astragals are fixed relative to the ridgepole. To this end, the inner ends of the astragals are secured to the studs by pins 34 which penetrate. bores 35 in the studs, and slots 36 in the astragal walls which extend. in directions of movement o the astragal end in expansion and contraction movements. Each ofthe roof astragals 20 also is supported on each of the roof stringers 15, by means of a. bracket .31 moun d on the stringer nd tending above it into. the astragal channel where it is provided, with. a suitably shaped head 38. The ast a als are connected to thebracket heads fifibypins, 39 that penetrate such. heads and the astragal walls. The brackets 31 on the stringer nearest the vertical astragals I! are, secured in fixed relation to the astra als. 20, this being a p n and hole connection, while the corresponding connections between the brackets and the strin ers nearer the rid nole are pin and slot. connectiohs to permit the astragal to. move. axially. A, tie rod 40. is secured at; its inner end to the rid epolev l4, penetrates all of. the stringers l5, and-isprovided. with spacing. tubes 4!, andnuts 42, byemeans of which the positions of the strin rs ldgrelative to theridgepole are substantially fixed, the spacer tubes 41 being of material having a small coefiicient of. expansion relative to. that. of the; material of which the astragals. are made. Due to the pin and slot connections, and thepin and hole. connection adjacent the. vertical astragals, H; the adjacent ends of the inclined astragals 20 are confined substantially against movement arisingby expansion and contraction of the astragals 20, The inner ends of such astragals are movably supported as described, and are spaced from the ridgepole l4, so that they may 4 move sufficiently to accommodate expansion and contraction. The lower edges of the skirts 29 slidingly contact the upper surfaces of glass panes 26 supported between astragals 20, and the skirts are notched, as at 43 to slidingly contact the astragals 20.

Throughout the pivoted panel section I9 of the greenhouse roof adjacent roof, astragals 20 are connected by longitudinally disposed astragal sections 50 to form frames for panels 5| that are horizontally pivoted to the ridgepole at their upper ends so as to be capable of outward and upward swinging to provide ventilation.

Throughout these pivoted panel sections [9, the inclined astragals are supported as heretofore described, and below, or outward from the cross members 55, they support fixed panes as usual. iEhe pivoted panels comprise short astragal side members 52, each of which is supported on a bracket 53, which ,ismounted in the side of the ridgepole, Each bracket 53, as shown in Fig. 7, comprises a plate 54 for attachment to the ridgepole, a bearing arm 55 for supporting the top plate 21 of the capstructure, and an upwardly and outwardly sweeping arm 60 that termimates in a head 5|, shaped to be received in the channel of a side member 52. The head BI is bored at 62 to receive a pivot pin 63 by which the side member 52 is pivoted to the head.

As stated above, the skirt member 29 of the cap structure. does not extend through pivoted panel sections l9: of the roof. The upper and lower ends of. the side members, 52 are connected together by members 64 and 65, the whole forming a frame for glass panes 66'. The outer side of each side member carries a plate member 61 secured to'the flange 2| of the astragal and extending laterally to overlie an upstanding plate 68 secured tothe adjacent flange 2| of the next astragal 20 and to an ofibent flange 69 at the end of the skirt 2-9. The plate 61 has a downwardly turned flange 10 that lies beyond the plate 68-. This arrangement serves tostop the space between astragals 20 and side members 52 when the-panel is closed.

The upper cross member 64 comprises a Z- shaped bar extending across theentire panel and ha ing a lower flange I I, the loweredge of which contacts the pane: of: glass 65. between the side members, 52, and the plate; 61 outside of such members, the flange H being notched at 12 to clear the members 52, The member 64 extends under the edge of, theflange 30 oi the cap plate 21, and at its inner or upper edge carries an upwardly turned flange 13., This arrangement is such; that the members til-maybev swung upward abou pivot pins 63, and when the-panel is closed by reverse swin ing; the. member 64 will engage hebottom of the flange 30; and; the top of flange 13 will contact the under surface of the top plate 21, so a tight jointwillbe formed;

The lower member: 65 of the panel; structure comprises a plate: that supports a depending flange i l which contacts the: crossvmember 50 to forma tight joint when the panel is closed.

At the end 01 the greenhouse. the glass panes iii are supported upon a combined astragal and end flashing sheet 15 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which is movably supported, upon brackets 16 bolted to the end rafter H) as described above for the astragals 20 The brackets 16 have upstanding heads 11' engaging the-inner-walls of the groove in the end astragal and provided with pins T8 forretaining the Iatt'er'in place, these pins being mounted in transverse holes in the heads 11 in which they engage loosely so as to have some freedom of movement lengthwise of the rafter I3.

The outer edge of the flashing sheet 15 is bent down over the top ends of the astragals l1 and provided with an underturned flange 19 which is notched to receive the astragals and which terminates against the outer side of the glass panes Bil forming the end side sheathing. The flashing sheet is secured to the end astragals II by means of rivets ill, and a loose connection is provided between the flashing sheet and brackets 16 by means of screws 82 working in slots 83 in the downturned flange of the flashing.

An operating bar 84 running lengthwise of the roof is provided for raising and lowering the pivoted panel sections, operated by means of a longitudinal shaft 85 which is journaled in brackets 86 secured to the rafters l3, andmay be rotated by suitable mechanism on the outside of the end walls of the greenhouse. This shaft carries two adjustable crank arms 8'! for each panel connected by links 87' with the bar 84, pivot arms 88 are attached to the bar 84 at spaced intervals, the outer ends being connected by pivots 89 to blocks 93 secured in the astragals 52 and serve to raise and lower these panels at will.

It will be seen from the above description that the roof structure herein disclosed is simple, yet serves adequately to support a roof sheathing on a metal framework, provides for the highly desirable connection of roof astragals to wall astragals without subjecting the joints to strains due to expansion and contraction, and in general provides a light but wholly satisfactory structure. It will also be seen that the system of supporting the roof structure permits construction of many greenhouses of difierent arrangements of fixed and movable panel sections, the bracket arrangements for supporting the roof on the ridgepole and stringers being such that no special form of main frame is required to support either type of section.

I claim:

1. In a greenhouse comprising an inside main framework including a ridgepole, and an outside glass-supportin wall framework comprising vertical astragals; a roof structure comprising inclined astragals having their respective outer en-ds secured to the tops of the vertical wall astragals and their inner ends supported by the ridgepole, spaced from it and free to move relative to it and axially of the astragals by expansion and contraction of the astragals, means restricting movement of the outer ends of the inclined astragals relative to the ridgepole, and a cap structure overlying the inner ends of the inclined astragals, contacting said astragals at a point spaced outwardly of their inner ends and permitting movement of said contacting astragals.

2. In a greenhouse structure comprisin an inside main framework including a ridgepole, and an outside glass-supporting wall framework comprising vertical astragals, a roof structure according to claim 1, wherein the cap structure comprises a top spaced above the ridgepole and a skirt depending from the top at a point spaced outwardly of the inner ends of the inclined astragals, said skirt having a lower edge in slidable contact with the upper surfaces of said astragals, and arranged for sliding contact with glass panels supported on them.

3. In a greenhouse comprising an inside main framework including a ridgepole, and an outside glass-supporting wall framework comprising ver-- tical astragals; a roof structure according to claim 1, wherein the means restricting movement of the outer ends of the inclined astragals comprise tie members having inner ends secured to the ridgepole and outer ends connected with the inclined astragals at points adjacent their connections with the vertical astragals.

4. In a greenhouse comprising an inside main framework including a horizontal ridgepole and horizontal roof stringers spaced laterally thereof, and an outside glass-supporting wall framework comprising vertical astragals; a roof structure comprisin inclined astragals having their respective outer ends rigidly connected to said vertical astragals and their inner ends supported by the ridgepole, spaced from it and free to move relative to it and axially of the astragals by expansion and contraction of the astragals, means rigidly connecting said inclined astragals to the stringer nearest the vertical astragals, means supporting said astragals on a stringer intermediate said first stringer and the ridgepole, said supporting means being arranged to permit the astragal to move axially relative to said stringer and means rigidly tying said first stringer to the ridgepole.

5. In a greenhouse comprising an inside main framework including a horizontal ridgepole and horizontal roof stringers laterally thereof, and an outside glass-supporting wall framework comprising vertical astragals, a roof structure according to claim 4, including means rigidly tying said second stringer to the ridgepole.

6. In a greenhouse comprising an inside main framework including a horizontal ridgepole and horizontal roof stringers spaced laterally thereof, and an outside glass-supporting wall framework comprising vertical astragals; a roof structure according to claim 4, wherein said stringer-tying means comprises a tie rod having its inner end secured to the ridgepole and penetrating and being rigidly secured to all of the stringers.

7. In a greenhouse comprising an inside main framework including a horizontal ridgepole and horizontal roof stringers, spaced laterally thereof, and an outside glass-supporting framework comprising vertical wall astragals and inclined roof astragals having their outer ends rigidly secured to the tops of the astragals, said roof astragals comprising downwardly open channel sections; a supporting system for said roof astragals comprising brackets secured to the ridgepole in laterally projecting disposition and including studs engaged in the downwardly open channels of the astragals and secured to said astragals by pins and elongated slot connec tions arranged to permit movement of the astragal ends laterally of the ridgepole and axially of the astragals by expansion and contraction of the astragals, brackets mounted on the stringer nearest the vertical astragals and including studs projecting upwardly into the channels and rigidly secured to said astragals, brackets mounted on each stringer between said first rafter and the ridgepole and including studs that project upwardly into the channels of the astragals and pin and elongated slot connections securing said studs to said astragals and arranged to permit the astragals to move axially on the studs, and a tie rod rigidly connected to the ridgepole and to each stringer.

8. In a greenhouse roof that includes an inclined sheathing fabric of astragals and panels supported by said astragals, and. a horizonta idsepo e; a rid e structure comprising brackets se ure to t rids'ep l at s a ed inte va s and includi Qewsbeathius upporting mean capsheathin supported by said m ans in outwa d y spaced relation to the ridgepole, and arms extending laterally from the said brackets and supporting the ends of the astragals in positions to form close joints between the cap-sheathing and the pa els.

9. In a greenhouse roof that includes an inclined sheathing fabric of astragals and panels supported by said astragals, and a horizontal ridgepole; a ridge structure comprising brackets secured to the ridgepole at spaced intervals and including top surfaces for securing top capsheathing, lateral studs arranged for supporting side cap-sheathing, and other lateral studs supporting the ends of the astragals in positions to form close joints between the panels and side capsheathing on said other lateral studs.

10. In a greenhouse roof that includes an inclined sheathing fabric of astragals and panels supported by said astragals, and a horizontal ridgepole; ridge structure comprising brackets secured to the ridgepole at spaced intervals and including means for supporting a top capesheath ing above the ridgepole, lateral studs for supporthis side cap sheathins p ed laterally from the ri sepole, side Q nsheethine so s pported o soidstu s, and o her lateral studs suppo tin the en s of th astr sals With n the sapsheath ns and in position to t rm close j ints between the an s upporte by h straea and e side cap-sheathing.

ll- In a gre nhouse roof that includes an i clined sheathing fabric of astrasals and pan suppo ed by aid astre als, a d a h rizontal rid p le; ridge st u ture comprising brackets secured to the ridgepole at spaced intervals and including means supporting cap-sheath arms projecting laterally and pivotally supporting astragals and the panels supported by them for swinging between open ventilating and closed positions, and cap-sheathing supported on said supporting means and arranged to form close joints With the panels when the latter are closed.

12. In a greenhouse roof comprising a ridgepole, end sections of fixed panels supported by inclined astragals, and an intermediate section of pivoted ventilation panels; ridge structure comprising brackets secured to the ridgepole within the fixed panel end sections and having surfaces arranged for supporting top cap-sheathing, lateral arms for supporting said cap-sheathing and other lateral arms supporting the inclined astragals, brackets s cured to the r dsep le within th intermediate s ction and havin sur ac s rranged for supporting top cap-sheathin' and lateral arms for pivotally supporting thixpivoted ventilating panels, top capssheathing e tending the length of the roof and supported on the said supporting surfaces of the brackets, said sheathing being arranged throughout the extent of the intermediate section for forming close joints with the ventilating panels when the latter are closed, and side cap-sheathing limited in extent to the end sections, supported on the said lateral arms of the brackets and arranged to form close joints with panels supported by the fixed astragals.

13. In a greenhouse roof including a ridgepole; a cap structure including a top extending the length of the roof and sides limited in extent to sections adjacent the ends, brackets secured to the ridgepole at spaced intervals within the extent of the cap sides and supporting said cap structure, fixed roofing sections co-extensive with said cap sides and including astragals having innor ends supported slidably by the brackets to accommodate their expansion and contraction, and'panel structure supported by the astragals and arranged to form close joints with the cap sides, brackets secured to the ridgepole within a section intermediate the cap sides and supporting the cap top, and ventilating panels in said intermediate section pivotally supported by the brackets and arranged to form close joints with the cap top when in closed positions.

14. In a greenhouse roof including a ridgepole; a ridge arrangement including a cap structure comprising a top extending the length of the roof and a vertical skirt depending from the edge of said top and of limited longitudinal extent, fixed panels extending throughout the length of said skirt and having inner end portions extending beneath said skirt and supported by the ridgepole, and movable panels extending throughout the remaining portion of the roof, said panels having inner ends pivotally supported by the ridgepole beneath said cap top, and said inner ends being arranged to form close joints with said cap top when the panels are closed.

1.5. In a greenhouse including a ridgepole; ridge structure according to claim 14 wherein the pivotally supported astragal is higher than the fixed astragal, wherein is provided a vertical skirt structure arranged to stop the spacelbetween them when a panel supported by the pivoted astragal is in its closed position.

ARTHUR B. KLEINHAN t.

No references cited. 

